"Young Christians yearn to know exactly what healthy and Godly love, sex, dating, and marriage resemble." -- Chelsen Vicari, Evangelical Action Director

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- As theaters begin screening a film adaptation of the controversial novel "50 Shades of Grey" and National Marriage Week draws to a close, Evangelical Program Director Chelsen Vicari of the Institute on Religion and Democracy is calling on pastors to do more than condemn or dismiss the film.

Chelsen Vicari, Director of IRD's Evangelical Action program, commented:

"A wide number of articles already explain that '50 Shades of Grey' is pornographic, abusive and a fabricated depiction of love. Most Christian men and women know this.

"Instead, young Christians yearn to know exactly what healthy and Godly love, sex, dating, and marriage resemble.

"Unfortunately, one of America's most influential pastors, Andy Stanley, just released a new book attempting to address these issues but failing to provide the purposes and parameters of God's design for love, dating, sex and marriage. Stanley and other Evangelical leaders have failed to adequately challenge deviations from God's marital framework.

"America's youth and young adults need leadership, but unfortunately there are too many 'gray' areas even in the church."

Vicari's book Distortion: How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel and Damaging the Faith is published by Frontline.

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